The Trump administration has issued an executive order threatening the American Bar Association’s (ABA) status as the official U.S. law school accreditor.
Executive Order Challenges ABA Diversity Requirements
President Donald Trump signed the order on Wednesday, citing higher education reform as the motivation. He tasked Education Secretary Linda McMahon with reviewing whether the ABA should lose its accrediting authority. The administration claims the ABA’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policies are “unlawful.”
In February, the ABA’s Council of Legal Education paused enforcement of its diversity rule. However, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi recently pushed for its repeal and hinted at revoking the ABA’s authority.
Legal Experts Warn of Licensing Chaos
University of California Irvine Law School Dean Austen Parrish warned that stripping ABA accreditation could create inconsistent licensure standards across states. Most U.S. jurisdictions require law school graduates to attend ABA-accredited institutions before taking the bar exam.
Texas and Florida courts are already reexamining the ABA’s role. Florida justices cited concerns with the association’s diversity policies during their review.
Stakeholders Defend National Accreditation Standard
Stetson Law School Dean Benjamin Barros stressed the need for a unified accreditor. Without one, he said, future lawyers could face a confusing array of rules and no alternative accreditation body may emerge.
Kellye Testy, executive director of the Association of American Law Schools, also defended national accreditation. She emphasized it ensures graduate mobility and protects public interest, especially in underserved rural regions.
Student Loans at Risk for Independent Law Schools
If the ABA loses recognition, some law schools could lose access to federal student loans. While universities can still offer loans through broader institutional accreditation, independent schools like Brooklyn Law School depend solely on the ABA for federal loan eligibility.
ABA Yet to Comment on Order
The ABA, which has served as the nation’s law school accreditor since 1952, has not responded to the executive order. Education Department data shows the decision could impact multiple law schools and thousands of students nationwide.
